Welcome to the Institute of Cell Biology and Physiology
The Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology (IIZP) was formed in 2021 by combining the former Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and the Institute of Zoophysiology.
Our institute embodies the close connection between physiological and cell biological processes that cannot be fully understood in isolation. At the IIZP, our mission is to explore the complex structures and physiological processes in animal cells and whole organisms across a range of time and length scales. Following this approach, our aim is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the molecular, cellular and biophysical principles of developmentally, physiologically and pathologically relevant processes.
The research activities at the IIZP integrate experiments on individual molecules, isolated cells, tissues and living organisms. We are using a wide range of model systems that include cell cultures, amoebae, crustaceans, nematodes, fruit flies as well as mouse models. For our integrative approach, we combine biochemical and genetic technologies with high-resolution, quantitative microscopy approaches.
Please visit our research groups for more information.
News
September 2025
How epithelial junctions mature: new study reveals conformational transition in key adhesion protein
Researchers at the University of Münster develop method to visualize structural changes in a prominent adhesion protein / Study published in Communications Biology
The formation and maintenance of epithelia is crucial for the development and survival of all animals. Cadherin-based complexes, known as adhesion junctions, are essential for the integrity of these tissues, forming robust yet dynamic cell-cell adhesions. However, the molecular details underlying the formation of these important structures are not fully understood. A new study by the Grashoff group at the IIZP sheds light on this fundamental cell biological process.
Background and method
In their open-access study recently published in Communications Biology, the authors show that the maturation of adhesion junctions—found, for example, in human skin and intestines—is accompanied by a structural change within a protein that has previously been shown to be essential for the formation of cell-cell contacts in animals: α-catenin. By combining a novel α-catenin biosensor with fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy imaging, the authors show that the molecule undergoes a critical conformational change in its C-terminal actin-binding domain when adhesion junctions mature. Surprisingly, this conformational change, which is believed to strengthen cell-cell connections, correlates with increased protein turnover. The identified mechanism may therefore explain why epithelial tissues can form mechanically stable yet dynamic structures.
Funding
This work was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Original publication
Windgasse, L., Grashoff, C. A conformational change in α-catenin’s actin-binding domain governs adherens junction maturation. Commun Biol 8, 1325 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08785-3
May 2025
May 2025
